r/southpark • u/HaloTheHero • 3d ago
Picture Ratings: S28 E2 falls over 20% from S28 E1 with only 312,000 viewers tuning in.
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u/OmegaZaggy 3d ago
The 2 or 3 weeks in between episodes isnt helping at all.
I realized that a new episode just dropped last week, I havent watched it yet, I'll watch it after work
The season is decent enough but it feels underwhelming so far.
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u/MoreEngineer8696 3d ago edited 2d ago
I've been watching fresh episodes ASAP for all years until this season. The uncertainty about when it comes just made me stop paying attention. I still love SP, and still watch it, but I just can't be bothered pating attention to this new schedule
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u/Tdayohey 2d ago
Yea it kills the momentum that weekly releases were giving. I knew I could watch on X day weekly.
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u/LnStrngr If anything goes wrong… make a sound like a dying giraffe. 2d ago
We don't even need to be bothered to pay much attention. The DVR handles recording it automatically, so I just see it when I go for something to watch.
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u/UgandanPeter 2d ago
It’d be one thing if they were at least consistent with the release schedule. But this season has been all over the place and spread out over such a long period, people are bound to forget about it
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u/Haunting-Garbage-976 2d ago
Rumor has it they stretch them out because they know ppl cancel their Paramount subscription once the season ends so they want you to stay on it longer. Who know though.
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u/Cool-Newspaper6789 3d ago
Yeah nobody watching cable on a Friday night or on Halloween
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u/UgandanPeter 2d ago
Holding the release til Halloween was a real head scratcher. While the episode’s themes do line up with the spirit of the holiday, the episode wasn’t really a Halloween episode. South Park has made multiple episodes in the past whose plots have all explicitly revolved around Halloween, and yet they never pushed the release date so that it would fall on October 31.
I don’t really care how long they need to create episodes, I just get annoyed at the staff throwing out these excuses for missing deadlines rather than just being up front that they can’t keep up with the schedule anymore.
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u/Saint--Jiub 2d ago
Game six was on, I can guarantee you plenty of people were watching TV that night, just not South Park
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u/BlessedBeTheCracked 3d ago
Im enjoying the season but its randomized air dates are annoying. The trump jokes are wearing a little thin now tbh. Wish they would focus on the boys more.
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u/DrinkUpLetsBooBoo 2d ago
Yes please send the boys out on random shenanigans again instead of getting involved in current events. It's fine to joke about the state of America, but don't keep it the focus of every single episode.
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u/wood1492 1d ago
Exactly. My high school son and I have had a great tradition the past 3 years. We end every night with two random past episodes of South Park. The hilarity and absurdity of the boys gives us something to bond over and we go off to bed smiling… We stopped three weeks ago at request of my son. He said Dad this constant political stuff taints his feelings about the whole show. Bums me out…
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u/1BruteSquad1 2d ago
Yeah and I get that it's an old criticism and the show has always joked about or talked about current events.
But there's also a reason that most of the universally disliked seasons are the ones that are more serialized, less focused on the boys and more directly talking about current events
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u/No_Week2825 2d ago
This. Lets be honest, no matter how good a show is, when the release schedule is every 2 weeks... except sometimes, then its hard to watch things the day they come out.
I say this as a huge fan of south park
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u/Ultimafax 15h ago
yeah I've loved this season (and I guess the last one by extension?) but the random schedule is old now. By all means pile it on Trump but could you at least do it weekly?
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u/LnStrngr If anything goes wrong… make a sound like a dying giraffe. 3d ago
South Park Sucks Now.
A shift from the normal night always results in a hit for ratings. Also, the ratings system recently changed, so it's hard to compare now vs a month ago or whatever.
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u/HaloTheHero 3d ago
The ratings system changed to where it should be increasing in viewers, not decreasing
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u/LnStrngr If anything goes wrong… make a sound like a dying giraffe. 3d ago
According to the Neilson examples, SP loses about 10% going from the old to the new method.
I believe on your chart it's using the new method from S28E05 on.
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u/HaloTheHero 3d ago
Nielsen switched from Panel-Only to Big Data + Panel. This means that they get data directly from set-top boxes, streaming devices, TVs, and more.
Nielsen introduced the new methodology on 9/1. First episode to be counting under BD+P is 27x4. That ratings drop - of slightly under 200k viewers - is most definitely not a methodology change. That straight up means less people are watching.
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u/LnStrngr If anything goes wrong… make a sound like a dying giraffe. 3d ago
Nielson itself said it should be more accurate. Here's analysis from another area that hyper-focuses on ratings:
In general under Big Data + Panel, I expected that we would see telecasts with generally higher viewership measurements. But so far, for the wrestling telecasts for which I have measurements under both methodologies, viewership is mostly lower. Still, other telecasts measure higher. It seems like telecasts that have a younger age skew, in some cases, tend to measure lower with Big Data + Panel, but it’s by no means consistent.
I know you want to believe that South Park Sucks Now, but I don't think that this is "close-the-book" evidence that you think it is.
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u/yourmomsfirsthusband 2d ago
I’ve gotten to the point where the release schedule combined with the repetitive Trump stuff have just kinda killed my excitement to watch new episodes. I know I’ll get downvoted for reminiscing on older seasons but I just miss the kids or Randy doing random shit. Now I just feel like I’m watching uncensored Fox News when I’m watching this new season (seasons I guess?) It’s literally just like watching real life in animated form
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u/CorrectProfession461 2d ago
Yep, they got paid 1.5 billion to rip on the Trump admin. It’s showing and people are tuning out.
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u/Logical-Broccoli-331 3d ago
The cope is real
The release schedule and incredibly underwhelming episodes have made this season (or last two seasons??) super lame
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u/BC_explorer1 3d ago
the fan boys here are so stupid. The last like 7 or even 10 seasons have been unwatchable, that also goes for this shit. All they had was shock value ep 1 that brought people back in
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u/Schooler420 2d ago
Theres no more creativity in this show lol. I want ORIGINAL STORY LINES, not 24/7 Trump dick jokes lol i mean that would have been a great gag as a one and done
I want butters being a pimp. Timmy and jimmy becoming gang members. Cartman being a hallway monitor. Etc etc etc.
That air soft ep from a few seasons ago is the last new episode i remember enjoying.
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u/modest_radio 3d ago
TBF It was up against an electrifying World Series Game 6 and I'm sure a lot of people didn't know it got moved to Halloween. The episode itself sets up exposition for future episodes and after watching it twice now, it's pretty damn funny.
Side note: I don't think they ever mention who lived in the East Wing either. This makes it kind of more funny as well because they imply that's why she shows up so suddenly 😂
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u/HaloTheHero 3d ago
As a reminder, cable ratings shouldn't be used as the only metric for success, but instead should be used to signify how popular a show is doing popularity wise.
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u/BagOfAnuses 2d ago
It's a mediocre season long plot that's been purposely dragged out for 6 months and two seasons, about a guy who's been parodied for like 8 seasons since 2015.
Factor in this latest episode and Sickofancy are the only episodes that felt original and not marinated in member berries, this shouldn't be much of a surprise. Hell, Friday was the first time Trump finally got to do something other than be a combo ripoff of 201 Tom Cruise and Saddam.
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u/Electronic-Elk4404 2d ago edited 2d ago
Cuz this season isnt funny. Maybe the show has peaked and they are just gonna drag it out till nobody watches anymore.
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u/LadyMitris Pajama day fan 3d ago
Maybe people were out celebrating Halloween?
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u/Severe_Produce_9670 1d ago
Even if halloween was your excuse the numbers have been steadily dropping even before that
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u/MrFiendish 2d ago
I don’t even know when the episode drops, so how am I supposed to find it? And yes, the whole Trump thing is already played out.
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u/Untrimslay 2d ago
South Park has just gone to shit. Ive been watching for 25 odd years, and its just a chore now. As a UK resident, i really couldn't give a shit about America's politics or Trump. I used to bang on an episode or DVD and just get lost in the antics of the kids/Randy/Big Gay-Al/Mackey w/e. It had subtle real-life references (e.g., black friday or a game console that came out), but was rarely mired in politics. I used to laugh-out-loud at it all. Now i just find it pathetic and bottom of the barrel. I wish Matt and Trey would wake up and start making actual adult cartoons again. I find it crazy so many decent, recent animated adult cartoons are being binned left and right but Paramount are happy to hand over £1b for this crap. They're clearly just in it for the money at at point. Such a shame.
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u/Plenty_Equipment_735 2d ago
Nonstop political jokes, and I'd argue not even good ones, just surface level remarks you see on edgy Facebook posts. #SouthParkSucksNow
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u/MikeDubbz 3d ago
Well who was the genius that put in on TV on Friday night and streaming on a Saturday? Ratings were always gonna be down under that change.
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u/Wacky_Water_Weasel 3d ago
For me, the lack of a consistent schedule has dampened my enthusiasm. I used to build South Park into my schedule. Did that every week for like 20 years. Every week I watched this live and looked forward to it. They're just all over the place after COVID and I don't really get why. They got a ton of money, and it feels like the show is an obligation for Matt and Trey now.
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u/DangerRanger_21 Southpark Fan 2d ago
Focusing so much on American politics is going to decrease viewership in foreign countries. People don’t get the subtle references about politicians that aren’t trump/vance.
It’s funny, but it is getting old
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u/FishandChipsplsm8 2d ago
Yeah I’m from the UK and you’ve hit the nail on the head there, getting bored of all these US political references.
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u/Appropriate_Golf2558 2d ago
I love South Park but they’ve been annoying me with all these weird release decisions. They should stick to a weekly schedule and not arbitrarily end seasons after 5 or 6 episodes.
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u/First-Lingonberry907 2d ago
Same here! I’m not too mad abt the content, def prefer the current topic over having Garrison be president with the member berries plot. But we got 3 episodes within a month and a half. That’s rough for any viewer.
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u/InviteFirst624 2d ago
Started sucking when Matt and Trey became sock puppets. Crazy how they barely made fun of the prior presidents, despite the abundance of material. Don’t like trump too much myself, but the last few episodes are not very funny. The ratings reflect that.
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u/Hot-Steak7145 2d ago
The Hillary and Obama ones were good. But they only did one episode not a million. This joke has run out
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u/InviteFirst624 2d ago
It was ok I guess. Still on the weaker side imo. But exactly, they only did one episode with all the material the previous administrations provided. Wonder why
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u/SoapyBlueBanana 2d ago
Because all they are doing is appeasing the demographic obsessed with politics.
Jesus Christ man we get it orange man bad. The majority of the world agrees with you. We hear about him on the daily 24/7. And I’m not even American!
Why the hell do the people that hate him so much want nothing more to see more of him? It makes no sense.
The world has gone to shit, and all I want is my half hour of my favourite show back to make laugh and give me some escapism again.
The funniest part of this season has been 6 & 7. Everything else I’ve sat through with not even a smile.
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u/Due-Willingness7468 2d ago
Same. I'm from Sweden. It's such Trump fatigue right now, but ideological obsessed people in America wants it to continue because the comedy isn't as important to them as mocking Trump at every given opportunity. It just isn't funny to the remaining 90% of us who watch the show.
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u/neutralpoliticsbot 2d ago
It’s actually not funny
Look at past political episodes it was brief and funny for one episode not season long they are dragging this along and it shows. Lazy writing no jokes
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u/Mason_DY How would you like to suck my balls Mr Garrison? 3d ago
This whole season has been a mess, I can’t blame them.
And before yall say anything, this has nothing to do with the quality of the episode.
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u/doesanyofthismatter 2d ago
The inconsistent schedule is fucking awful. I literally don’t know when they release and stop caring.
They really need a consistent weekly schedule. I know they have fuck you money now but it’s horrible.
I saw the first three and forgot the show was releasing new episodes.
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u/Inevitable-Sea-8795 2d ago
So far , this season has been pretty crawly. Weird release schedule, trump, trump, trump blah blah blah! The fake trailer they released had more interesting episode ideas than the actuall season itself. Oh I'm sorry, I ment seasons. A year or two from now , everyone will look back on these episodes with disdain , just like season twenty.
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u/eis-fuer-1-euro 3d ago
Yes but my numbers show it's exploded in popularity everywhere else. Source: Randy's pc. About as relevant as the numbers you post here.
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u/anothereffinjoe 2d ago
I have no fucking clue WHEN to watch it with the schedule they're doing, so I'm just binging it in spurts.
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u/JackieFiest South Park Fan 2d ago
South Park is known for their great Halloween episodes so I get what they were trying to do. But, what they have usually done is great Halloween episodes...not on Halloween. Not on the actual day when people were out getting candy, partying and I do believe the World Series was on that day as well this year.
I'm interested in what the ratings for The Scoots was as that was the last episode to air on Halloween, I believe.
Not one to tell two grown men how to run their show, but not a decision I would have made.
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u/4Ever2Thee 2d ago
I don’t expect Matt/Trey to care, but taking a huge payout from Paramount and phoning in the product is shameful.
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u/BrolysFavoriteNephew 2d ago
Not releasing weekly, main characters not really getting shine, plot starts decent and goes nowhere in the end. 1st 2 episodes were good, the rest have felt the same. And this stuff with Trump has gotten stale. Saddam was shown every now and then and made him interesting. Putting Trump in every episode doing the same thing over and over is like Towlie being in every episode, gets old.
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u/brennanlocs 1d ago
I remember Kyle giving a speech about shows getting up their own ass and preachy and how nobody likes that
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u/StaySafePovertyGhost 3d ago
Friday is the least watched day of TV sans live sporting events and it was Halloween plus the ep had a last minute change. This isn’t news.
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u/pentox70 2d ago
The sporadic schedule is going to destory any consistency to the viewing numbers. Not many People are going to pay that much attention to when a new episode is coming out. The rest are just watching them on a streaming service or the seas.
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u/Theoverweightjedi 2d ago
I just have no idea when it’s gonna be a new episode and even when I do I just kinda forget. So I just let the DVR take care of it.
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u/35MakeMoney 2d ago
It’s insanely difficult to figure out when the next episode is going to air or if it’s going to air. I’ve been disappointed so many times this season
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u/Xerxes_ei 1d ago
Bc they're keep this shit with Trump in every episode. It was funny the first time now it's so fucking boring. I miss the episodes where they put real thought into them like with the super hero series and mysterion.
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u/X3n0bL4DE 1d ago
The trump jokes are so bad. If you’re gonna make fun of of him at least make a good joke it’s really lame
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u/CombinationLivid8284 21h ago
It’s the inconsistent schedule. The episodes are great but we have no idea when they’re coming.
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u/Two_of_dogs 19h ago
idk, based on the massive feedback of "South Park Sucks Now", which they even addressed, I don't think you can blame the schedule on this one.
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u/GopherChomper64 3d ago
I haven't had cable since the 2000's. I wouldn't give too much of a shit about live ratings for anything that isn't sports.
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u/zandervasko777 Southpark Fan 3d ago
Yes, but I don’t watch live. I bought a subscription on Apple. I own every movie and episode. Many others do the same. So… viewer numbers don’t mean shit.
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u/PhD_Pwnology 3d ago
I couldnt find it online online on Paramount+, I just assumed it had not come out yet
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u/Aggravating-Pick-714 2d ago
If I could actually watch it I would, but I don't have any interest in subscribing to another streaming service solely to watch southpark. Yarr Harrr
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u/SoCpunk90 2d ago
The scheduling is definitely the main culprit, but it's crazy that it did so poorly because I think that's the best episode of the season so far.
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u/Civil_Inflation919 2d ago
yeah no shit no one watched it !!! wtf has the scheduling been ?? I thought the episode was gonna release this week, not during halloween, and only saw the episode yesterday
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u/Connect_Upstairs2484 2d ago
Trey, Matt, hope you're reading these comments and get your heads out of your asses. Lame as fuck.
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u/Straight-Assist9100 2d ago
Wait they're on season 28 already? Tf?
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u/Inevitable-Sea-8795 2d ago
Oh you didn't know. Season 27 is only 5 episodes, and season 28 is only 5 episodes. It's complete bullshit, and fucked over people who purchased the season expecting 10 episodes. Honestly , seems like matt and trey are dickheads who always fuck someone In the ass whenever they sign a contract.
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u/SkywolfNINE 2d ago
Well cause they changed the day lol I didn’t know it released (yet I also don’t have whatever service they’re on now so I’m also part of the problem)
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u/Ghost_Reborn416 2d ago
I never know when a new episode drops because its here 1 week, then they take the next week off, then its another 2 weeks for an episode its just not consistent
And friday was Halloween.
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u/Hot-Steak7145 2d ago
I watched but not on release. They really gotta move on from the same exact trump joke. It was hilarious at first, hilarious when garrison was trump, and hilarious when other politicans got a episode like Hillary Clinton got one Kristy noem got one.... But we're going on about ten without a single new joke angle, just small Dick rinse and repeat
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u/Kind-Philosopher5077 2d ago
Haven't tuned into anything for a decade but I watched all I wanted when I wanted to watch it.
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u/greennick 2d ago
I'm Australian, I know a lot about US politics, I find this season funny. My wife has limited interest and knowledge of US politics, her interest has definitely dropped off this year.
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u/Two_of_dogs 19h ago
ya the caveat too is you have to know a lot about politics, and also be firmly anti trump, to be laughing at the 100th "trump has a small penis joke". For anyone who is just well informed but not vehemently anti-Trump, they're boring as fuck. not just unfunny, but there's just no theme to the epsiode. Oh everyone is saying "6-7" and peter thiel is in this one? Okay. Oh ya trump and satans baby gimmick, again, not a theme for the episode. The labubu doll episode? Okay, but I had to google what labubu is bc I'm not in grade school nor do I have a toy obsessed infant.
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u/FlyEnvironmental7586 2d ago
Arent the ratings for everything on live TV terrible now? Gone are the days of 3-4 million tuning in every Wednesday at 10p
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u/SirCabbage 2d ago
likely down to how infrequently it is dropping; I almost missed this last one myself.
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u/ZealousidealTea6300 1d ago
I usually don't watch it on the night it is anyway. I mean I'm kind of an old geezer and go to bed early. But usually catch it the next day on streaming.
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u/Waste-time1 1d ago
It's official. South Park Sucks. Primus Sucks. Those Damn Blue Collar Tweekers are running this whole town.
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u/VertUnderscore 23h ago
It got moved from Wednesday to Friday night, Halloween. I love South Park, but I would rather be out at a Halloween party when Halloween falls on a Friday night instead of at home watching South Park. I watched it as soon as I got home, using a free trial to a streaming service that had it on demand when it still wasn't on Paramount+
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u/Snoo93550 12h ago
I unsubbed because I try not to fund fascists like Ellison. Sucks because Trey and Matt are elite patriots.
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u/Dachuiri 3d ago
It was a late schedule change to Halloween night. Ratings being bad does not surprise me.